By George Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
A few weeks after winning the EuroBasket, Real Madrid’s boy wonder continues to impress on the courts of the EuroLeague as well, where he reached a PIR of 41 against Armani Milan.
In this way, Doncic made history, as he became the youngest player to exceed the very high limit of a 40 PIR, leaving behind Nikola Pekovic and others.
Who are the 5 youngest players who have achieved this? Eurohoops looked into it and presents here a list of names that showed their talent right off the bat and had at least one… outrageously good performance at a very young age.
Luka Doncic (Real Madrid)
Date of birth: 28 February 1999
PIR: 41
Game: Real – Milan (24 October 2017)
Real Madrid’s win over Armani Milan has already been forgotten, but Luka Doncic’s unique feat will be remembered for many years to come, perhaps even forever. The Whites’ guard is in amazing form and against the Italians he finished the game with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, drew 10 fouls and earned a PIR of 41.
In this way and at the age of 18 years and about 8 months, Doncic climbed to the top of the list with the youngest players to tally a 40+ rating in their stats.
Νikola Pekovic (Partizan)
Date of birth: 3 January 1986
PIR: 40
Game: Partizan – Barcelona (24 October 2007)
Nikola Pekovic had everything that is needed to make a magical career. He showed what he could do early on, got an important transfer to Panathinaikos, won the EuroLeague and made the big leap to the NBA.
The serious injuries he suffered might not have allowed him to shine for a number of years on the other side of the Atlantic but, still, he can boast that at the age of 21 years and almost 10 months he made this record in the colors of Partizan. On 24 October 2007, against Barcelona, the ferocious center tallied 29 points (13-for-14 in two-pointers, 3-for-6 in free throws), 8 rebounds and a PIR of 40! He dominated like few do…
Μarko Popovic (Cibona)
Date of birth: 12 June 1982
PIR: 54
Game: Cibona – Estudiantes (25 November 2004)
Marko Popovic is in a league of his own compared to the others because, at the age of 22 years and 5 months, he got the inconceivably high PIR of 54! Besides, the Croatian guard was born to score and on 25 November 2004, he proved that against Estudiantes.
He finished the game with 39 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and drew 14 fouls in his best and most productive night in a total of 123 games that he has played in the EuroLeague!
Tiago Splitter (Tau Ceramica)
Date of birth: 1 January 1985
PIR: 42
Game: Virtus – Tau Ceramica (24 October 2007)
Tiago Splitter made sure to showcase his great skills early on and his career best in the EuroLeague, in terms of the PIR, came on 20 December 2007.
That’s when the Brazilian center, at the age of 22 years and 10 months, scored 25 points (10-for-14 two-pointers, 5-for-5 free throws) against Virtus, along with 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals. It might not have been his most productive night but it was his best based on the PIR, which places him at third place of the relevant list.